Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
SAUGUS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The hounds were out Sunday in Saugus.
A group of people walking their dogs met up in Breakheart Reservation sharing a passion they have for the work done by Northeast Coonhound Rescue.
The non-profit, all-volunteer organization is dedicated to the welfare and rescue of coonhounds, hound mixes, and beagles.
They transport dogs from the southern and midwestern states to New England, New York, and New Jersey to find their forever homes.
There's a big need for these kinds of rescue groups as in some parts of the country hounds are used primarily for hunting and are not necessarily viewed as pets.
Once their use for hunting is finished, or for whatever reason they become unwanted, the dogs can be abandoned.
Tony Grassi from Malden was one of the dog-walkers on Sunday.
He said he has a hard time believing how some of these dogs are treated and how strongly he believes in the work groups like Northeast Coonhound are doing. "They are giving dogs a chance that didn't have any," he said. "They were just found wandering down in Virginia. They rescued them and brought them up. How you can just let these animals go is beyond me. Any animal lover at all sees these guys and falls in love."
Since Northeast Coonhound Rescue began in 2010, the group said it has rescued more than 1500 coonhounds and beagles.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.